​While Pax East 2016 feels like it was forever ago, there were many games featured that we feel were not represented as well as they could have been. Everyone knows about the big hype releases that were displayed, such as Overwatch, Battleborn, as well as a multitude of new Sony VR games. Those are not the games we want to focus on.

​So without any delay, and with no particular order in mind, let us bring you Game Rampage's Top Picks for Pax East 2016.

Rohk

While it is clearly in it’s beginning stages, this game made it to the list because of the potential it has to be amazing. A survival game with an expansive Mars terrain map where you can go anywhere. You work to build your camps as you try to survive in this hostile environment. There are added elements that add challenge to your survival, such as making sure your air supply stays up.

​Like several other survival/building games, there is a social element. You can either decide to work together or against other players who are also trying to survive. This game is very unfinished, however, putting it down on the bottom of our list. The controls are difficult to maneuver as you try to piece together your materials for shelter. There are also no propulsion mechanics yet, so you need to have a running start before you can jump forward.

While they were not in the playable demo, the creators informed us that there will be other challenges, such as monsters to fend off, providing yourself with food, and making sure the fluctuating temperatures of this wasteland don’t kill you.

Overall, this game is worth keeping an eye on and if it seems like your kind of game, be sure to promote its progress through their Kickstarter.

Pinstripe

This is a game we have been anticipating since we saw gameplay several months ago. The booth was a little difficult to find, being tucked away amongst other games from Armored Games. We found the art style to be very attractive in its dark, slightly Tim Burton-esque way.

You are the character Teddy, who’s daughter has been kidnapped by an unknown villain. You must now travel to rescue her and discover what is happening in this world as you travel deeper and deeper into what the creator describes as hell. This game is a mix of puzzle solving and discovery as you face dark monsters and find new friends.

While the creators have already surpassed their initial Kickstarter goals, there are plenty of stretch goals to fulfill for those wanting to provide this game with further support. ​Its intrigue, style, and dark tones certainly make us a favorite amongst some of the crew. It will hopefully be coming to Steam for IOS, Linux, and PC later this year.

Blind Virtual Reality

​While most of the Virtual Reality games felt like they were purely using the technology as a gimmick, rather than an immersive experience, this game was anything but. The concept grabbed our attention immediately and playing the demo did not decrease our opinion.

This narrative driven thriller starts you off in a world of darkness. You are a young blind girl, captured by a mysteries individual known as the Warden. Using the concept of echolocation, you explore your surroundings, giving glimpses into the physical world surrounding the player before they fade back into darkness. You may also use sound producing devices that create a more constant awareness of the surrounding areas. It is through puzzle solving and exploration that you discover who this girl is, and why she is now trapped in this mysterious mansion.

Unlike many of the VR games that we tested during our time at Pax East, this game didn't seem to use VR as a gimmick. The game revolves around the concepts of sight vs blindness, so using technology that completely envelops the players vision creates a natural transition into this budding gaming technology.We are hoping to see this game available to the public soon, however there is still much being worked on and no official information has been released on Blind VR's site yet.

Star Crusade

Being big fans of Hearthstone, some of our team were automatically drawn to Star Crusade when we saw it on the show floor. While some banter on that it's a clone of other digital card games, we found it to offer many aspects that were quite refreshing.

With the ability to customize your deck within 25 to 40 cards, many deck types become available. Each faction has there own strengths and weaknesses that define their play-style in a fun way. I found myself giving each faction a try with my own customized decks, win or lose, it's fun to constantly evolve your deck based on the current meta game.

Did I mention Star Crusade is completely free-to-play? While you can purchase packs in the same vein as Hearthstone, Star Crusade's side quests or missions offer more of a reward. This simple change encourages players to do each and every mission to (hopefully) guarantee a pack of cards each day.

This especially poignant since this is a free to play game that doesn't fall into the pay to win trap. We actually go into more specific detail on the game in a previous article. Even now some of our team have found themselves playing Star Crusade whenever there is a free moment. ​For those interested in giving this game a try, you can get it for free on Steam right now, with mobile devices being added in the near future.

Divinity Original Sin II

There is no way we could have left this game off of our list. Having thoroughly enjoyed playing the nuances of Divinity: Original Sin, we had to take a look at the sequel. This new installment keeps the charm of he original game, while adding much content.

One of the biggest changes being made from the previous installment are wider array of races that are now going to be available, each with their own story arcs. Taking a page out of Dragon Age: Origins, each race will have a new beginning along with a profound effect on the story line. With the addition of magic shields you can now say goodbye to overpowering hitting enemies before the battle even begins.

This new change ensures battles stay tactical from beginning to end. Skill balancing is always a huge issue in RPG's of this nature. Let's hope Larian focuses on ensuring each skill can be used in new and unique ways that keep game play challenging but fresh.

Divinity Original Sin II is slated to release sometime Holiday 2016. If you're a big fan of RPG's as we are, this is one game you simply don't want to miss!

Klang

​An action, faced paced, music adventure game. It may seem like an odd combination, but Klang seems to make it work and it works wonderfully well. With two joysticks at your command you will hack and slash through enemies, musical icons all while keeping up the tempo as a rhythm game.

​ Klang delivers an excellent pace as my experience at the beginning was slow paced and methodical. That soon changed however as you progress through the level, Klang becomes a fast paced rhythm musical. Overall, Klang definitely earned best music and rhythm title at PAX.​While Klang is not officially released yet, be sure to keep an eye on the latest updates for an upcoming Steam release .

Catlateral Damage VR

This was just too cute to pass up when we saw it being played on the show floor. What better way to cause havoc than with adorable kitty paws. You are a house cat, trying to knock over as many items onto the floor as possible while your owner is away. While the original game is not made for virtual reality, and is currently available for download on Steam, it lends itself so naturally to VR.

While the graphics are simple in design, we found ourselves not wanting to stop while playing the demo. The immersion caused us to even feel a little nervous when standing on the edge of a shelf. One of our team members even felt a little dizzy, looking off of the virtual shelves. This game also has a complete, be it small, world for your feline self to frolic and smash in. We found ourselves continually turning in circles to see where there were more items to jump up to and knock over.

Knocking items was also trickier than one might think. Items seem to carry different characteristics such as weight. Larger items were more difficult to push aside. With the VR, you also need to reach down, practically touching the floor when batting aside items at your feet, er.. paws. This made movement a necessity when playing the VR version. ​There was one downside we discovered with the transition onto VR with this game however. Maneuverability became quite difficult when using the controls due to the multitude of cords attached to the headset. We didn’t want to move too much for fear of tumbling the computer equipment. It was a shame too because this game really did want to make us move about and explore.

20XX

If you are a fan of the Mega Man franchise, this is a game you will not want to miss. While we are not a fan of all of the artistic choices (we feel they lean too much on the cutie side) there is little less we can find wrong with this movement seems to be smooth and responsive, as well as faced paced.

​ We were also pleased with the two player feature that is available in this game. It allows people to work together, using the characters different strengths to more efficiently complete the levels. ​There are also many nods to the original Mega man franchise, such as level design, the basic character style, and even the ability to take a bosses power. More strategy is involved however, as you have only a set number of boss powers you are allowed to keep.​For those interested in checking out 20XX, it is currently available for early access on Steam for a reduced price.

Necropolis

And finally, last, but certainly not least, Necropolis. This game managed to stand on its own by being one of the most unique titles at PAX East this year.

For those of you that love surprises and fighting your way through dungeons, this is the game for you. Either solo or with up to three friends you can fight your way through randomly generated levels, moving your way deeper and deeper into this city of death. Challenges can come from the choices you make, and death can arise from the simplest action, such as unknowingly drinking from a poisoned water source. As you delve deeper and defeat more enemies, you have the choice of taking their weapons and armaments to improve your character.

Necropolis' combat resembles the Souls series with a mix of rogue-like elements. Single and multi-player options each deliver unique experiences. As usual with the Souls series, your weapon of choice effects your movement along with your attack speed. This is essential to understand as picking the wrong weapon in the wrong situation, will easily lead to death. Multi-player managed to throw players into a battlefield against each other and random enemies.

This game should be arriving on Steam this summer for Mac and PC and is currently available for pre-orders.

Do you agree with our top picks? Any games you would have added to the list? Let us know in the comments below!